A high flux source of cold strontium atoms

TL;DR

This paper presents an experimental setup that significantly enhances the loading rate of cold strontium atoms using a novel 2D MOT deflector, achieving high flux and long trap lifetime.

Contribution

Introduction of a 2D MOT deflector after a Zeeman slower for improved atom loading in a high vacuum environment.

Findings

Loading rate of 6x10^9 atoms/sec

Atom lifetime of 54 seconds in the 3P2 state

Effective high flux of cold strontium atoms

Abstract

We describe an experimental apparatus capable of achieving a high loading rate of strontium atoms in a magneto-optical trap operating in a high vacuum environment. A key innovation of this setup is a two dimensional magneto-optical trap deflector located after a Zeeman slower. We find a loading rate of 6x10^9/s whereas the lifetime of the magnetically trapped atoms in the 3P2 state is 54s.